There are a few really good reasons to buy an NVR and Mega Pixel Cameras, and there are a lot of reasons NOT to. since our goal is to educate you rather than cram something down your throat, let's begin our discussion.


1. Mega Pixel Cameras are Costly in FOUR main areas:

a) INITIAL COST - The initial cost of a Network Based IP Mega Pixel camera is SIGNIFICANTLY higher than the initial cost of an analog camera. A simple 1.0 Mega Pixel "box or brick" camera, for instance, will run you north of $400.00 PLUS the cost of the lens, housings, mounting brackets, etc. Compare that with a $125 t0 $185.00 cost of today's 480 to 550 TVL analog cameras, and you begin to see the problem. Sixteen 1.0 MP cameras would cost you at least $6,400.00 plus lenses, etc. while a high end 550 TVL analog camera would only set you back $2,960.00. That's more than TWICE as much....and you can buy a LOT of equipment for the difference.

b) STORAGE - Let's look at some basic math. 16 - 1.0 MP camera, streaming at 30 FPS, will require just over 8 TERABYTES of storage for ONE WEEK. And That's IF you are using an H.264 Camera. If you're using a MPEG4 camera, the number is even worse - 12.5 TB! Similarly, 16 - 550 TVL Analog cameras at 30 FPS running 4CIF, will only require 2.5 TB of storage for the same week. Today, a TB of DVR GRADE storage space, runs about 150.00. PLUS, you have to have the SYSTEM that can accommodate that storage. AT A MINIMUM, you'll save well over 800.00 just in STORAGE space, by going analog.

c) BANDWIDTH - This is the worst culprit. If you plan to deploy, say 16 mega pixel cameras on your existing 10/100 or 100/1000 network, along with your existing data flow, PLAN on kissing your network goodbye. You will SHUT IT DOWN and your business will come to a HALT because you simply can NOT support that kind of bandwidth. Anymore much more than 6 to 8 cameras MUST be on their own Network. How much will that cost? Depends on where you live but it can run from $600.00 up depending on labor costs, materials cost, etc. Let's look again at some math: 16 Analog cameras, running 30 FPS at 4 CIF will need 16.48 Mbps of bandwidth ONLY if it is streaming the video OUT to a client user. If you are NOT streaming, then it will require ZERO bandwidth. The 16 1.0 MP cameras, 30 FPS will REQUIRE 83.20 Mbps PLUS another 83.2 Mbps if you desire to stream it out to a client application. Think that will cause a problem on your network? Just wait until your sales, accounting, purchasing etc. staff CAN'T process orders and paperwork, and we'll SEE how happy you are with your mega pixel cameras. NOW. If that wasn't enough, consider this, the EQUIPMENT you purchase to make this all happen, is going to cost you EVEN MORE.....and THINK about how much you'll pay in additional ISP costs to stream that video.

D) POWER OVER ETHERNET or POE - This is the MUCH heralded solution to power and it is the devil in disguise. Take a look at the average four port Ethernet injector - it has AT BEST, a 45 watt power supply. Now it's NO secret that it takes about 15 watts to run the router itself.....and about 10-12 watts for the average mega pixel camera. See the problem? NOT ENOUGH POWER. You have to purchase high end units, single units OR only run TWO cameras on the expensive FOUR port POE injector to make it run properly...there goes your SAVINGS right down the drain.

MORAL OF THE STORY - MEGA PIXEL SYSTEMS ARE NICE, BUT THEY ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND YOU'D BETTER BE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, OR YOU'RE GOING TO BE VERY VERY VERY UNHAPPY.

2. I want to run IP cameras because I can use CAT5 or CAT 6 cable instead of that expensive Siamese cable.

Well, somebody's been lying to you. First off, we use CAT5 & CAT6 cable in analog installations every day...IN FACT, if you're running more than 1000' runs, you MUST use it for an analog install. Whoever told you that you HAD to use Siamese or "coax" didn't have a clue or has a hidden agenda. Get the facts before you spend your way into IP hell.

3. The Brand Name Companies have been in business for years, they know what they're doing.

Ya, right. And if you believe THAT, we've got some land in Florida we'd like to discuss. Anybody who thinks you can throw a 10/100 card in a stand alone system and turn it into an NVR should have their head examined. You need (see above) STORAGE CAPABILITY, POWER AND BANDWIDTH. This means you need to be able to scale out to multiple TB of storage, you need MULTIPLE GIGABIT LAN connectivity and you need an internal system that's capable of keeping up with the data flow. The system is ONLY as good as it's WEAKEST link so it had BETTER be good or welcome to your nightmare.

4. Mega Pixel Cameras are the only way to capture license plates.

Well, if ONLY this WERE true. Sadly, not only is it NOT true, it's not even CLOSE to the truth. First off, capturing a MOVING LICENSE PLATE is not rocket science, but it IS a specialized application. If you believe your State Highway is using a 420 TVL box camera in an enclosure, you're wrong too. Capturing HIGH SPEED license plates, is even harder. Some of those cameras run well into the thousands of dollars. For MOST of us, we need to capture a plate either coming into or out of our garage, gas station, driveway or parking lot. Each one of these are somewhat specialized but we rely on the same concept.

A) The camera must be aimed correctly and pointed DIRECTLY where the license plate is going to appear.

B) The camera must be of sufficient resolution to be able to make out the plate when it see's it.

C) Lighting conditions will be of as much if not more importance than anything else.

Let's think about this LOGICALLY for a moment or tow.

First, if you are trying to capture the FRONT plate of a vehicle, we have to deal with HEADLIGHT GLARE at night, and on the newer cars, even in the daytime because many are now equipped with daytime running lights. This presents some interesting possibilities. There is NO Auto Iris Lens that going to overcome and oncoming headlight beam aimed straight at it. You need to DEAL with that light. Today, we use a technology called "Eclipse" which takes the light, and REFRACTS it back toward the vehicle. What we actually do is to use the light itself, to ILLUMINATE the license plate. A camera with this technology, of sufficient resolution, runs right about 200.00 WITHOUT the lens, mounting bracket, housing, etc.

Now that we've got the lighting problem solved, we have to know some things.

1. What is the normal traffic pattern of vehicles in and out

2. How far away from the actual plate is the camera.

We want to be SURE that the camera is pointed AT the point where the license plate would enter the picture. Further, we have to be sure the cameras LENS is capable of "reaching out" and "seeing" the plate, from wherever it is mounted. Typically, we use an Eclipse camera with a 6-60mm Auto Iris Lens in a Housing with a bracket. This is going to run right at 300.00 or so for the complete camera. Still a far cry from the Mega Pixel Camera cost, and we've not used any bandwidth, etc.

NOW, a mega pixel camera CAN make is easier - IF you've got the lighting figured out, etc. While it IS true that you can BLOW UP THE MP shot without distortion, it will do you ZERO good if you don't have the basics down.

The truth is simple. There is really no such thing as never and always. Each individual situation is unique, and must be dealt with. THAT is PRECISELY why you need an expert. Someone who understands the uniqueness of your problem, and can design a solution to it. The REALLY good news is, if you do it right the first time, you'll save a pile of money, headaches, heartaches, grief AND aggravation. Give us a call today and let us find the RIGHT solution for you.

5. I've already bought a bunch of IP cameras, they'll work with any NVR right?

WRONG! Every NVR works with a certain type, brand or model of camera and NO they will not work with ALL IP cameras. Our NUUO systems will work with hundreds of models and makes, but even NUUO won't work with them all. MAKE SURE that the camera you are buying, or are thinking of buying, will work with the NVR you want. We recently had a Military application where the installer had purchased one of the biggest names in the business. He bought the NVR AND the IP cameras from the SAME manufacturer. SURPRISE - the IP camera would NOT work with the NVR that the SAME manufacturer had built. And THEN it got REALLY confusing. Double check EVERYTHING.

6. My IP Cameras came with software, and I bought an HP desktop computer so I'm all set to go!

HE HE. Lord if I had a nickel every time I've heard that one. I tell them all the same thing. Have fun, and call me when you discover your mistake. With any luck it won't be very costly. NO, it won't work, NO you won't be happy and YES, you are going to HATE HP, DELL or whoever built your desktop computer, and you are going want to KILL whoever sold you those cameras with that fancy "software" that doesn't do anything other than let you SEE the camera online, MAYBE. Remember this and remember it well...if it sounds too good to be true, IT IS. If you've already gone down this road, we'll be talking soon....in fact, that's' probably EXACTLY why you're reading this now.

7. My local wholesale club has a great buy on a pre-packaged system.

Well, you don't need to be talking to us for sure. IF you think that Costco or Sam's or Wal-Mart or Best Buy have the NVR/DVR solution for you, that's exactly where you should buy it. Now I'm not trying to really confuse you or make you mad. But I will tell you this, and it's a fact....prepackaged junk is the worst possible investment you can make. If you think that your surveillance needs are the same as everyone else's' then why not K-Mart? There are very few situations that are exactly alike, there's a tree where it shouldn't be, you've got glare in the wrong spot, whatever. You need to KNOW the answers BEFORE you can engineer a solution......and I GUARANTEE you that NO ONE at Wal-Mart has that answer for you. (Go ahead some Saturday, and ask the fellow at Wal-Mart to explain the difference between JPEG2000, M-JPEG, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and H.264 Compression) Want to buy an IPOD, talk to those guys. If you've already bought a system then you already KNOW what a bad decision it was, THAT'S WHY you are HERE.

8. Are you trying to Scare Me?

Yes, and no. What we WANT is for you to make an INFORMED decision. We WANT to sell you an NVR, we'd even like to sell you MP cameras - BUT ONLY IF ITS THE RIGHT DECISION, AND ONLY IF IT'S DONE PROPERLY.

Talk to a professional. Find out what the pitfalls are so you can avoid them, then make a decision that will solve the problem you have and make sure that in the end, you're a happy camper. If that is a bad thing, we don't get it.

9. OK, so WHY in the WORLD WOULD I want to buy these things after all you've told me?

When Mega Pixel IP cameras and Network Video Recorders are CAREFULLY thought out, designed and deployed, there is NOTHING IN THE WORLD LIKE THEM. They are GREAT. They're not for everyone, but if you've got the budget and you execute it properly, you are going to LOVE them. You can put an IP camera virtually anywhere and the clarity of the captured result is astonishing. If you'd like to hear more, give us a call today. We can help you decide if this technology is right for you, or if there is a better solution.